Structure of Self-Assembled Mn Atom Chains on Si(001)

R. Villarreal, M. Longobardi, S. A. Köster, Ch. J. Kirkham, D. Bowler, and Ch. Renner
Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 256104 – Published 18 December 2015

Abstract

Mn has been found to self-assemble into atomic chains running perpendicular to the surface dimer reconstruction on Si(001). They differ from other atomic chains by a striking asymmetric appearance in filled state scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images. This has prompted complicated structural models involving up to three Mn atoms per chain unit. Combining STM, atomic force microscopy, and density functional theory we find that a simple necklacelike chain of single Mn atoms reproduces all their prominent features, including their asymmetry not captured by current models. The upshot is a remarkably simpler structure for modeling the electronic and magnetic properties of Mn atom chains on Si(001).

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  • Received 27 October 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.256104

© 2015 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

R. Villarreal1, M. Longobardi1, S. A. Köster1, Ch. J. Kirkham2,3, D. Bowler3, and Ch. Renner1,*

  • 1Department of Quantum Matter Physics, University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
  • 2Division of Precision Science and Technology and Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1, Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
  • 3London Centre for Nanotechnology and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

  • *Corresponding author. Christoph.Renner@unige.ch

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Issue

Vol. 115, Iss. 25 — 18 December 2015

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